LAHORE: An opposition member in the Punjab Assembly on Monday asked the chair to send the bills on child marriages and Muslim family laws to the Federal Shariat Courtinstead of the governor for its `right interpretation` under the Islamic laws.

Jamaat-i-Islami`s Wasim Akhtar pointed out that no one was allowed to amend the Islamic laws and the matter should be referred to the Shariat courtforinterpretation before legislation. He said the houselastFridayhad adoptedbills on child marriage, second mar-riage and other family laws `in haste`.

Zakat and Ushr Minister Nadeem Kamran said the government would look into the matter.

The House had adopted the Punjab Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015, restraining child marriages defining that a boy child would be considered under 18 years of age and a girl under16years ofage.

The new act has increased punishment of imprisonment and fine from one month to six months and from Rs1,000 to Rs50,000, respectively.

The act has also introduced punishment for the Nilcah registrarwho solemnizes a child marriage.

The Punjab Muslim Family Laws had been passed to supersede the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 which did not provide any mandatory provision regarding filling of all the entries in Nikahnama on instructions of the bride and bridegroom.

The Act has also inserted enabling provisions to grant maintenance to children in case a husband contracts second marriage without following the procedure provided in section 6 of the Ordinance. It empowers the Arbitration Council to specify the amount, which shall be paid by the father as maintenance of thechild. Earlier, such husbands were paying a very low rate of only Rs5,000.

Deputy Spealcer Sher Ali Gorchani, who was chairing the session, constituted a committee to investigate allegations that a fake government sports event had been held in Bahawalpur.

The University of Jhang Bill 2015 and a special audit report (2008-09)on the accounts oflivestock experimental stations could not be tabled in the house as opposition member Ahsan Riaz Fatyana pointed out quorum.

Mr Gorchani prorogued the session for indefinite period.